Packing device having fastener means for facilitating the formation of attractive display layers



May 2?, am?.

G. H. HERWIG 24211264 PACKING DEVICE HAVING FASTENER MEANS FORFACILITATING THE FORMATION OF ATTRACTIVE DISPLAY LAYERS Filed sept s,1944 Patented ay 27, 1947 f staresl ATENT OFFICE PACKDIG DEVICE HAVINGFASTENER MEANS FOR FACILITATING THE FOR- MATION LAYERS F ATTRACTIVEDISPLAY 8 Claims. l IThis invention relates to improvements in packingdevices having fastener means for facilitating the formation ofattractive display layers.

The main objects of this invention are: First, -to provide a packingdevice which' enfour boxes or containers for packing arranged y in sideby side relation, two being illustrated in ables the rapid packing ofboxes or containers for fruit or vegetables or other small objects toprovide a faced package.

Second, to provide a device or apparatus of the class described in whichthe fruit may be packed with a facing layer by the picker with a minimumexpenditure of time and effort.

Third, to provide a packing device of the class described which is veryinexpensive in structure and easy to operate.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appearfrom the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed outin the claims.

A preferred embodiment of th'e invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, in which: Y

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a packing device embodying rny inventionwith a tubular container wall member therein, an assembled containerprior to securing the members thereof to-l gether being shown.

Fig. 2 is a transverse section on line 2 2 of Fig. l, the articles to bepacked being conventionally illustrated.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section on line 3-3 of of Fig. l with theretaining rod in retaining position.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section with the packing tray in invertedposition and in the process of being withdrawn from the completedpackage, the contents of which are conventionally illustrated.

Fig. 5 is a perspective View of the filled completely assembled.container with the contents conventionally illustrated.

The box or container illustrated is that of my copending application,Serial No. 533,166, filed September 8, 1944, which container isparticularly well adapted for use with the packing device of thisapplication.

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated, I provide a tray-likereceptacle l preferably formed of sheet metal and having a wire bordermember '2 secured thereto by means of the outfolded border bead or roll3. This'provides a smooth or rounded edge and also stiffens thestructure, permitting its being made of light sheet metal.

The structure illustrated is adapted to receive Fig. l. These boxes orcontainers comprise tubular members Il rectangular in cross section anda bottom member 5 having auxiliary side walls 6, the bottom beingdisposed across the end of the tubular member with the side walls 6lapped upon the outer sides thereof.

The side walls 6 are provided with bendable fasteners l, thoseillustrated being in the form of wire loops which' are bent over theupper edges of opposed side walls as shown at 8 to secure the parts inassembled relation, the material packed being indicated conventionallyat 9 in Figs. 2, 4 and 5.

It is well recognized that the attractiveness and salability of fruitand certain vegetablesmushrooms for example, is greatly influenced byproper facing of the package-that is, the arranging of good specimens ofthe article packed in a substantially uniform relation as is shown inthe drawing. My packing tray is adapted to facilitate such packing. Thetray I is provided with corner legs I0 adapted to support it in elevatedposition. In packing, the tubular members 4 are arranged within th'etray, the bottom of the tray constituting a facing surface on which thearticles packed may be arranged as is illustrated in Fig. 2. After thefacing is arranged, the remaining contents of the container are iilledin more or less promiscuously as is common practice. With the containerwalls filled as is indicated in Fig. 2, the bottom5 is placed across thecontainer with the auxiliary side wall members 6 between the sides ofthe tray and the opposed sides of the container. The tray is providedwith' openings ll adapted to receive the fasteners 'l when the combinedbottom member and auxiliary side member is placed over the filledcontainer. The fasteners may be bent inwardly to the secured positionwith th'e tray in upright position as shown in Fig. 3 but, as a matterof substantial convenience and to enable the operator to see the Workclearly, provide means for holding the filled containers in the traywhile the tray is inverted so that the operator can clearly see and moreconveniently secure the fasteners 1. A simple means for accomplishingthis is to provide the end walls of the tray with eyes I2 with which therod I3 may be engaged, the rod when 'inserted extending across thebottoms 5 as shown in Fig. 3.' This enables lthe inverting of the`packing tray which, as stated,l facilitates the securing of thefasteners and also the inverting to discharge the packages or to permitthe tray to be lifted off from the packed containers. The notches oropenings l l preferably extend not only into the bottom but also intothe side wall.

With my improved packing devices, fruits particularly small fruits andsmall vegetables may be attractively packaged witha'minimumoiflabor andthisfcan be effectively done inftlle'ld. kThe trays may be used aspicking lugs. The structure illustrated is designed to receive fourcon'- tainers but it will be understood .thatit may v,be larger ifdesired. A further advantage isth'at no tools or other equipment 'arenecessary for `-the eiective packing of the faced containers.

I have illustrated and described my invention in an embodiment which Iconsderdighiyfpractical. I have not attempted ftolillustratefor describecertain modiilcations and adaptations as it is believed that thisdisclosure will enable'those skilled in the art to embody or adapt myinvenrtion :as :may ibe :desired I-Iavi'ng thus described :finy`sinverfition, :what I cIaimJasn'eW :and idesireitoecure by v:IieittersPatents'i's:

211. fa Y.packirig iappai'atus, the .combination :of .invertibl'e vtrayidf n'ectangular section and zprovidedwith.supportinglegs `and iadapted-when in upright position to receive ragplurality fof tu- :bularcontainer members rectangular .in cross :section and Fsuppot vthe :saine:in :filling iposi-ticn Withtl'iebottimzof theft-.ray constituting raffacing surface, ltli'e Width v`tof .the Ttray 'being isuch that l'ths'ide Walls o'f the tu'blar icorrtainer tmembers 'afer'space'd therefromto 'receive auxiliary .iside Walls between them, the tray havingopposdslotdike openings .at the ilevier fcorners ithere'of exftnding`into ithe Ib'dttom :and side 'Walls fand adaite'dtoreceiveiprojectingfasteners` carried by i"the -aluiiiliary isideWalls-of Safcombined container ybo'ttc'im iandisifde wall :member .fandcoipermit the fldi'ng "of such ffaste'ners 'over the .edges .tof theysi'deivfalls f the Itubularfcontainerfmember While the fcoi-itaiiiei''-f-meiribers fare assembled Within nthe ftiiaygnpwardly projectingleyes :on fthe end walls i @if the traygandfaledntamer retaining ronremotafa packing apparatus, the :combination 'of "a tray #cir'ectaiigular .fsection :anilprovided fivith sipioortiriglegsiand@adapted whenrinzuprightypostion tb icceive aphnrality :of itiibu-lar:container members rectangular finfcro'ss section and supp'oitthelsamer'iniillingrposition 'with fthe bottom of l'the trayco'nstitutng Lia Lfacing rsdrface, *the `width 'of fthe tray l'being"such that the lside Ywalls 'o'i the `tabular Scontainer fineinbers are:spaced ithei''iom to receive auxilaltyside 1ivvalls :between rth'en,the tray having 'oppcsedslotlike openings .iat AQtfhe lo'wer coi'ir'erstlrereof extending :into :the ibttomandrsidewalls'mid alaptedto receivepro- Sj'e'ct'ing .*fas'teners carried :by :the :auxiliary -side'Walls-orf a combined ycontainer bottom and side Wallmeniber anditoipeimit the :folding :of such fxisteners 1 over `the edges ioffthesside Walls-of the ftublar V'contairier member While zthe `containermenbers .n.rerassembled" within'tlre .tray,v said :tray

.-'edt thrdugh said open'in'gs to beloW "the `lbottom :of ethe -tray and-facilitating :engaging-:said tast'en'ers i'through said r openings tto:fold the fastensers=arour1d athe edges :of ithe :side Walls Pof `thetubular containers.

3. In a packing apparatus, the combination of an invertible tray adaptedwhen in upright position to receive a plurality of tubular containermembers rectangular in cross section in side by side relation andsupport the same in lling position .withfthe bottom of the trayconstituting .a facing-surface, the trayfhaving openings adapted toreceive projecting fasteners carried by the auxiliary side Walls of acombined container bottom and side wall member and to permit the"folding Lof suchfiasteners over the edges of the sideWalls-of thetubular container member while the container members are assembledWithin the tray, and a container retaining rod removablyengageablewithsaid tray and when engaged eX- tendingracross the bottomsof the assembled containers `facilitatingthe inverting of the tray with:the-filled containers therein and permitting the engagement of thefasteners with the tray in inverted position.

4. lIn a ,packing apparatus, .the vcombination of a tray adapted when.in upright positionito receive a `plurality of ltubular containermembers rectangular in cross section in side by side Arelation andsupport thesame .in iillingpostion with the bottom of the .trayconstituting ajfacing suriace, the tray having openings substantiallyspaced .from keach vother and disposed through the .bottom of the trayand adapted Vto receive :projecting 4fasteners carried by la' bottomelement and to permit the foldingof such'fasteners over .the edges of.the side walls of 'the tubular 'container -member while fthe containermembers are assembled Within the tray.

5. Inra r.packing apparatus, vthe combination -vof fan Iinvertible .tray.provided ,with supporting legs andadapted to receive a tubularcontainer member and support the same in 'facing 'and filling position,the traylhaving opposed slotlike open- .ings Aat the lower cornersAthereof extending into its bottom and side Wall and adapted'to receive.projecting fasteners carriedby a combined con- .tainer -bottomfand`side wall member an'dto Aperfmit the folding of such fasteners 'overthe upper .edges .of .the .side Walls .o'f the "tubular container memberWhile the containerjmembers'are assemvbled within the tray, and "acontainer retaining vrod .removably engageab'le with said tray and whenengaged extending across :the 'bottom of .the assembled containerfacilitating the Vinvert- ;.ing oflthe tray with the 'fille'dLoon'tainer'therein and permitting the disengagement of the fasxtonersvwith the :tray .in c inverted position.v

Q6. 4In .a packing apparatus, Athe 'combinationof a tray ,provided withsupportinglegs andadap'ted #to receive a 'tubdlar container member 'andsupport the same in facing and VAiilling position, ithe Atray havingopposed slot-like openings at yrthe flower corners ythereof extendinginto its bottom and side Wall and adapted to receive .projectingfasteners carried by a combined container vbot- .tom --.and side wallvmen'iber 'and to permit the 4folding Vof .such .ast'eners over theupper yeliges of the side Walls of the tubular container "irrember whilethe container members are 'assembled lWithin the tray, said tray'supporting legs ipermittingsaid .fasteners to l`project Ibelow 'the'bottom of the tray and facilitating :engaging said Yasfteners through'said openings itc *fold the :ias-

tenersaroun'd the edges of the side Walls'cif tthe -tubulaizmembeix I.7.1n -a :packing apparatus, :the combinationv of an invertible trayadapted to receive "a'tubular .container .member and support the same infiacing and nliing'positiontne tray Ahaving openings adapted to receivefasteners carried by a bottom element and to permit engagement of suchfasteners with the tubular container member While the container memberis assembled within the tray, and a container retaining rod removablyengageable with said tray and When engaged extending across the bottomof the assembled container facilitating the inverting of the tray withthe lled container therein and permitting the disengagement of thefasteners With the tray in inverted position.

8. In a packing apparatus, the combination of a tray adapted to receivea tubular container member and support the same in facing and illingposition, the tray having openings substantially spaced from each otherand substantially spaced from the top of the tray adapted to re-REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 378,010 Kittinger Feb. 14, 1888387,140 Buck July 31, 1888 1,639,487 Collis Aug. 16, 1927

